F ford



Jan. 4, 1955 H. F. FORD 2,698,572

PORTABLE TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 k'T LEI 10 M45 comm I nvcnlpr MFM A llorney Jan. 4, 1955 H. F. FORD PORTABLE TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n n n u I u I I I I u I 7 A llorney Jan. 4, 1955 H. F. FORD PORTABLE TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor M/a/ M Attorney United States Patent PORTABLE TICKET PRINTING AND ISSUING MACHINE Harold Francis Ford, Cirencester, England, assignor to T. I. M. (Ticket-Issue Machines) Limited, Cirencester, England Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,096

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-66) This invention relates to ticket printing and issuing machines of the portable kind carried by conductors of passenger vehicles and has particular reference to the kind of machine which comprises a rotary printing element and a pressure device which co-operate to print and eject the tickets, means for varying the value, class or other particulars printed on the tickets and means for recording the transactions effected by the machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide improvements in the construction of a machine of the kind above indicated whereby a more complete statistical record can be obtained than has been possible with the machines hitherto in use and whereby a considerable saving is effected in time and labour in checking the cash taken by a conductor against the record compiled automatically by the machine.

According to the invention a ticket printing and issuing machine includes counters for recording the number of tickets issued of each value which the machine is capable of printing, the total number of each class of ticket issued, and the gross total of tickets issued and is characterised by two additional counters for recording the sum total of cash taken in units and half or multiple units and operating elements for said counters adjustable axially of a central operating shaft by the value and class setting means and arranged in such positions radially of said shaft that the cash unit counter is moved through an appropriate distance at every operation of the machine and the cash half unit counter is moved only when the value printed includes a half or multiple unit.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show parts of a ticket issuing machine to illustrate the application of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine taken on the line B-B of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the machine taken on the line A-A of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a development of the counter lay-out as a direct vertical projection looking in the direction of the arrow C in Fig. 1, and FFig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line D--D of In the construction illustrated and referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the ticket issuing machine comprises a casing 1 having an extension 2 wherein a paper supply roll is housed and which is normally closed by a hinged cover 3; a rotary printing element 4 and a pressure roll (not shown) arranged to co-operate therewith; an inking device (not shown) disposed adjacent the printing element 4; a number of counting devices; an adjusting device 5 for varying the position of certain of the printing dies which print such indications as those of class and stage boarded; and a finger dial 6 by means of which a value printing die 7 in the rotary element 4 is set to accord with the fare paid. Around the periphery of the dial 6 is a series of apertures adjacent each of which is marked one of the values which the machine is designed to print and adjacent the dial is a stop device 8 against which the finger of the operator abuts in completing a partial rotation of the dial to set the value printing die 7.

Within the machine casing is a main operating shaft 9 carrying the printing element 4 and adapted to be given a complete rotation by an external handle 10 to cause printing of a ticket on the web of paper drawn from the supply roll and ejection of the printed portion through a slot at 11 in the machine casing. The spindle 12 of the dial 6 carries a pinion 13 which actuates a rack bar 14 2,698,572 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 carrying a yoke 15 arranged to vary the positions of a number of discs 16 in accordance with the fare values set up on the printing die 7.

The casing 1 of the machine is formed of light sheet metal and includes at least one readily detachable portion which, when removed, exposes the inking mechanism and the counters for inspection, adjustment or replacement. The casing also embodies a number of windows through which the counter indications can be read at any time.

The machine so far described in general outline is of known type and reference is made to our prior British Patent No. 598,939 which shows a machine to which the present invention is applicable.

The counter units, either singly or in small groups, are detachably mounted to enable a faulty counter to be easily removed and replaced. The machine illustrated includes the following counters:

(1') Twelve counters marked 17 for recording the number of tickets issued of each value. For the purpose of illustration each counter shown in Fig. 3 is marked with a value but it is to be understood that the values marked could be varied in every instance to meet particular requirements.

(ii) Two counters marked 18 for recording the number of tickets issued in each class e. g. childs, workmans, return. Where a machine is designed to print tickets of more than two classes additional class counters would be reouired.

(iii) A counter marked 19 for recording the total number of tickets issued.

(iv) Two counters marked 20 and 21, to indicate the sum total of cash taken, the first in units and the second in half units, which in the present instance represent pence and half-pence respectively.

All the counters above described are arranged in a partially circular formation with respect to the central shaft 9 and the counters are disposed in groups any one of which can be removed without disturbing the others. Details of the preferred arrangement and mounting of the counters are given in the specification of our prior British Patent No. 598,937. The operating wheels or flanges of the individual counters are arranged all in separate planes, as shown in Fig. 3, spaced apart by distances each corresponding to the distance of one axial movement of the group of discs 16.

The printing element 4 carries a projection 22 which rotates therewith and in so doing, at one point in its rotation, operates the total counter 19. This operation takes place at every revolution of the shaft 9 and printing element 4 irrespective of what may be happening to the other counters.

The group of discs 16, twelve in number in the present instance to accord with the number of counters 17, is slidably mounted as a whole on the shaft 9 and is moved whenever the value to be printed is varied. These discs 16 are provided with peripheral teeth 23, each disc bearing a number of teeth corresponding to one of the even pence values which the machine is arranged to print. Any one of these discs can be moved into a position to operate the total cash unit counter 20. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the disc representing the 1 /2d. value is in the operative position. As the value to be printed is varied, so the counter 20 will be moved through the number of units equivalent to the value printed.

A striker 24 is also mounted to rotate with the group of discs 16 and is arranged to perform two operations. When the discs 16 are moved along the shaft 9, the striker 24 moves with them into a position adjacent one of the individual statistical counters 17, the selected counter being thereby operated as the striker rotates with the shaft. The striker also serves the additional purpose of operating the half unit total counter 21 which is provided with two toothed driving flanges 25 and 26. In the construction illustrated (see Fig. 3) the first and third counters bear an odd halfpenny. Hence, the flanges 25 and 26 are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to two axial movements of the discs 16. If the first three values included an odd halfpenny, an additional driving flange would be required spaced evenly between the flanges 2,5 and 2.6. The machine illustrated is so constructed that it can include only three values bearing an odd halfpenny and these values must be at the first three positions beyond which the striker 24 moves completely away from alignment with the counter 21. If, however, the values to be printed include only one odd halfpenny value, it could be arranged in any one of the first three positions. Also, when there are two odd halfpenny values these may be disposed in any two of the first three positions.

Also mounted on the shaft 9 is a group of discs 27 one only of which bears a tooth 28 for recording the class of ticket selected. The selection is made by operating an indicating and setting device which is conveniently of the construction described in our aforesaid prior British Patent No. 598,939. The operation of this device is transmitted through a pinion, rack and yoke which imparts axial movement to the discs 27 and by means of another rack adjusts the position of a class printing die 29 in the printing element 4. During these operations the disc bearing the tooth 28 is brought into operative alignment with the driving flange of one of the counters 18 to operate the counter as the shaft 9 is rotated. Although only two counters 18 are shown in Fig. 3, it is to be understood that this number can be easily increased and the machine arran ed to issue as many as five or six different classes of tickets.

In the operation of the machine above described, the counter 20 is always operated, the extent of its movement being in accordance with thenumber of pence units 1 in the value of the ticket printed. When either of the two values which include an odd halfpenny are being printed the counter 21 is operated simultaneously with the counter 20.

The improvements above described, without adding to the size of the machine enable the range of statistics directly obtainable by reading the counter figures to be substantially increased. The arrangement also provides a complete cross check on tickets issued and cash takings and if it is found that the number and total value of tickets issued differs from the cash takings by a small amount, the division of the cash difference by the ticket difference will enable the faulty counter to be located and replaced.

Although the invention has been described above as recording gross totals in units and half units, the two additional counters could be used for different purposes. For example, the ence unit counter could be used for pence values as before but the second counter could be arranged to record shillings whenever these occur in a fare value.

I claim:

1. A portable ticket printing and issuing machine comprising a rotary printing element to print tickets upon a pa er strip and eiect the printed ortion from the machine. setting means for varying the value printed upon said tickets. means enabling tickets bearing different class indication to be issued, statistical counters f r recording the number of tickets issued of each value which the machine is capab e of printing. counters for recording the total number of each class of ticket issued, a counter for recording the gross total of tickets iss ed, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in units, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in half or multiple units. a central operating shaft, operating elements seectively en ageable with said unit counter and located upon and adiustab e axially of said central operating shaft. means actuated by said valve setting means and operatively connected to said operating elements for determining the positions of said operating elements to move said cash unit counter throu h an ap ropri te distance at everv o eration of the machine, and a striker on said shaft and adiustable axially in unison with said operating elements for actuating both a statistical counter and said half unit counter during those rinting opera tions wherein the value printed includes a half or a multiple unit.

2. A portable ticket printing and issuing machine comprising a rotary printing elementto print tickets upon a paper strip and eject the printed portion from the machine, setting means for varying the value printed upon said tickets, means enabling tickets bearing different class indications to be issued, statistical counters for recording the number of tickets issued of each value which the machine is capable of printing, counters for recording the total number of each class of ticket issued, a counter for recording the gross total of tickets issued, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in units, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in half or multiple units, an operating shaft, a group of discs located upon and adjustable axially with respect to the said operating shaft and each provided with a different number of teeth, means actuated by the value setting means and operatively connected to said group of discs for determining the positions of said discs, said counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in units being operably engaged by one of said discs at every operation of the machine, and a striker mounted upon said shaft and axially adjustable in unison with said group of discs for actuating both a statistical counter and said half or multiple unit counter during those printing operations wherein the value printed includes a half or multiple unit.

3. A portable ticket printing and issuing machine comprising a rotary printing element to print tickets upon a pater strip and eject the printed portion from the machine, setting means for varying the value printed upon said tickets, means enabling tickets bearing different class indications to be issued, statistical counters for recording the number of tickets issued of each value which the machine is capable of printing, counters for recording the total number of each class of ticket issued, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in units, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in half or multiple units, an operating shaft, a group of discs located upon and adjustable axially with respect to the said operating shaft and each provided with a different number of teeth, means actuated by the value setting means and operatively connected to said group of discs for determining the positions of said discs, the counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in units being operably engaged by one of said discs at every operation of the machine, a striker, means mounting said striker for adjustment with the said group of discs, a certain of said statistical counters being operatively engaged by said striker during each printing and issuing operation, and said half or multiple unit counter being also operatively engaged by said striker from more than one position including during each of those operations wherein the value printed includes a half or multiple unit.

4. A portable ticket printing and issuing machine comprising a casing, a rotary printing element arranged within said casing to print tickets upon a paper strip and eject the printed portion from the machine, setting means mounted externally of said casing for varying the value printed upon said tickets, a hand operating device, a main operating shaft operatively connected between said hand operating device and said printing element through which said operating device can rotate the printing element, statistical counters for recording the numbers of tickets issued of each value, counters for recording the number of each class of ticket issued, a counter for recording the gross total of tickets issued, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in units, a counter for recording the sum total of cash taken in half for multiple units, means for supporting all of said counters in a partially circular arrangement relatively to the main operating shaft, operating devices for the individual counters arranged all in separate axially spaced planes save for said last named counter, a group of toothed discs located upon and adjustable axially with respect to said operating shaft, an operative connection between said discs and said value setting means to axially adjust said group discs for selective engagement between one of said discs and said unit counter, a striker means mounting said striker for adjustment with said group of discs to operate a selected one of said statistical counters and also the said half or multiple unit counter during those printing operations wherein the value printed includes a half or multiple unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,673.905 Eriksson June 18, 1928 1,920,085 Langdon July 25, 1933 2,090,612 Marquart Aug. 17, 1937 2,137,915 Kinnard et a1. Nov. 22, 1938 2,368,761 Hogan Feb. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 398.805 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1933 598.937 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1948 598,939 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1948 

